Karthus Build Guide by Gramps Tewks

Introduction

Hello and welcome to Do You... Feel.. a Chill?; a Karthus build guide of a different color!
I'm Gramps Tewks, and I'll be your curator as we explore the possibilities of playing with the Undead King of the Swamps!

Here's jjgrover9's Fan-Made Champion Spotlight, in which he highlights Karthus's abilities, playstyle, and possible builds:



Please comment and rate in the comments section below; share your experiences playing with or against Karthus and/or put in your criticism about the guide itself.

As always, endless kudos upon kudos to the incomparable JhoiJhoi for the template, which you can find here.

Onward, then!

Pros / Cons

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Pros + Lay Waste + Defile = $$$ + Fantastic duelist! + Unreal farm. + THE Ultimate!!! Requiem

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Cons - Mana and Map-awareness are of the highest priority! - Karthus is a slow Shaman indeed. - If you Requiem, they will QQ :3

Masteries

The Offensive Tree gives Karthus great early-game kick, and Utility brings Mana assistance and Death Reduction!

Executioner deals extra damage to your Requiem targets :3

Runes

• Greater Mark of Magic Penetration: Magic Penetration is extraordinarily powerful in the early-game; even a slight advantage there can easily shape the entire match.
  
  
• Greater Seal of Armor: Synergy with Hardiness for 18.7 Armor base!
  
  
• Greater Glyph of Magic Resist: Synergy with Resistance for 19.4 MR base!
  
  
• Greater Quintessence of Health: When you consistently survive ganks with under 100 Health left, you'll wonder what you did before these.

Summoner Spells

Revive: Karthus is so torpid that even the best mobility spells can't save him; thus, we turn to Revive to make him an UNDYING MENACE! Upon death, simply Revive, then Teleport right back into the action.

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Teleport: Excellent for mid-laning! Karthus is also quite slow, so Teleport helps keep him in the action. Combos with Revive!

Skill Discussion

• Death Defied: Defy death and demoralize your opponents!
  
  
• Lay Waste (Q): This is the reason why you can farm like a demon.
  This is the reason why you can control a lane.
  This is the reason why you can fully charge a Tear of the Goddess!
  
  
• Wall of Pain (W): Great for trapping people in your Defile and Lay Waste barrage! Wall of Pain also serves as a great escape alternate to Flash.
  
  
• Defile (E): Mini- Crowstorm on a stick! Careful usage is required, due to the Mana-drain.
  
  
• Requiem (R): FUN. Requiem is my favorite skill in the game :D
  Always watch the map for kills and coordinate with your teammates!

Skill Sequence

Items

• kage's lucky pick: Gold per 10 items are astoundingly powerful!
  They remove variance by getting you fed EVERY GAME.
  kage's lucky pick gives you a great Ability Power boost as well!
  
  
• : An excellent buy with kage's lucky pick on your first trip back!
  
  
• : Oh-so-good! Spam Lay Waste CONSTANTLY.
  You need this baby fully-charged for Archangel's Staff!
  
  
• : Standard caster fare that boosts your damage and synergizes with Greater Mark of Magic Penetration!
  
  
• catalyst the protector: Flat Mana and Health (on-level Regen too!) are Perfect here.
  
  
• : Lane sustain!
  
  
• : Karthus needs a massive AP boost after establishing his Mana base!
  
  
• : The perfect item for Karthus! I don't rush it because with Karthus, Damage > Survival.
  
  
• : Collect on your Tear of the Goddess investment and boost your damage through the roof!
  With the Gold from kage's lucky pick and good farm (with Karthus, always!), you'll get it. :3
  
  
• : Excellent Hextech Revolver upgrade.
  
  
  This is your core build:
  
  kage's lucky pick
  
  When buying a final item to replace kage's lucky pick, you have a host of options!
  
  
• : The enemy will most likely stack MR against you, so negate it with Void Staff!
  Sell Sorcerer's Shoes for Boots of Mobility in this case.
  
  
• : Need Magic Resist? Abyssal Mask is the coolest cat in town :3
  
  
• : Need Mana and Armor?
  
  
• : Need Spell Vamp and a sweet Aura?!
  
  
• : Warp in and out of the time-space continuum for the win!
  Credit: Metalsonic ^^

Gameplay

Early-Game

Karthus was pretty much custom-made for solo mid. He takes practice, but is fantastic when played well.

Your early goal is to FARM all day and night. Auto-attack and Lay Waste the **** outta minions for $$$!
Remember that Defile restores Mana per creep score ^^

You need Rabadon's Deathcap online as soon as humanly possible.
If you can, catch your opponent off-guard with a Wall of Pain-> Defile-> Lay Waste combo!
When executed correctly, they won't approach you lightly again.

FARM.

Rainbow!



Mid-Game

Karthus' Mid-Game begins when he's farmed out Rabadon's Deathcap!

If you K.O. your Caitlyn, Veigar, or whoever (and have over 1/2 health), go find a lane to gank and rack up some Shaman-induced kills!
Push your turret, farm, and help your teammates.

Late-Game

Push the the Nexus with your teammates!
Let the tougher ones initiate, then unleash unliving anguish upon the enemy!

Summary

Karthus is de bomb-diggity Diable Tonnere, with skills that can't be matched and Paket Kongo from a higher astral plane~

Just press R to get your kills!

~Gramps Tewks